Photoinitiated Reactions of Haloperfluorocarbons with Gold(I) Organometallic Complexes: Perfluoroalkyl Gold(I) and Gold(III) Complexes

The study of perfluoroalkyl metal complexes is key to understand and improve metal-promoted perfluoroalkylation reactions. Herein, we report the synthesis of the first gold complexes with primary or secondary perfluoroalkyl ligands by photoinitiated reactions between Au^I organometallic complexes and iodoperfluoroalkanes. Complexes of the types LAuR_F (L=PPh₃ or N,N-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene; R_F=n-C₄F₉, n-C₆F₁₃, i-C₃F₇, c-C₆F₁₁) and Au(R_F)(Ar)I(PPh₃)] (Ar=2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) have been isolated and characterized. Alkynes R_FC≡CR were formed by reaction of Ph₃PAuC≡CR (R=Ph, nHex) with IR_F (R_F=n-C₄F₉, i-C₃F₇). According to the evidences obtained, this transformation undergoes through a photoinitiated radical mechanism. Au^III complexes Au(n-C₄F₉)(X)(Y)L] (X=Y=Cl, Br, I, Me; X=Me, Y=I) have been prepared or in situ generated, and their thermal or photochemical decomposition reactions have been studied.